Akaroa Short Walks

Best Short Walks for Cruise Passengers

Track 1Name of Track: Garden of Tane
Duration of walk: From ¼ to 2 hours
Start location: A number of walk tracks criss cross this reserve and a number of entrances and exits are possible. The main entrance on the corner of Rue Jolie and Aylmers Valley Road. Another entrance is on Beach Road
Key Highlights: Children's playground, a mix of grand exotic trees with a native understorey, historic cemeteries where many of the early Akaroa settlers are buried, lovely views over the harbour.

Track 2Name of Track: French Cemetery
Duration of walk: 45 minute circuit
Start location: Rue Pompallier
Key Highlights: This circular route visits the French cemetery, the oldest consecrated cemetery in the South Island of New Zealand. The walk returns via an old Akaroa street where some original French families lived and concludes with a visit to their church, St. Patrick’s.

Track 4Name of Track: Woodills North
Duration of walk: 1½ - 2½ hours circular (or 2 - 3 hours circular with return via Woodills South).
Start location: The walk begins at the top of Woodills Road. If you have a vehicle, park it on the flat part of Woodills road and walk up the hill to the trail head.
Key Highlights: The Woodills North route offers a scenic, pastoral walk winding high up the Grehan Valley behind Akaroa, past small farms and patches of native bush, with wonderful views over the valley and harbour.

Track 5Name of Track: Woodills South
Duration of walk: 1½ - 2½ hours circular (or 2 - 3 hours circular combined with Woodills North)
Start location: Go up Rue Grehan. Turn right after Tree Crop Farm and go over the stile.
Key Highlights: The Woodills South route combines two of Akaroa’s most historic streets, a country track with lovely views and a chance to visit places of interest just outside the village including Tree Crop Farm Park and Nettle Creek studio.

Track 6Name of Track: Akaroa Heritage Park
Duration of walk: 2-3 hours circular or 20 minute short walk
Start location: The full walk begins at the Grand Hotel. From here take the Woodills Road to the Woodills Track trail head.
Key Highlights: The route to the Akaroa Heritage Park is a steady climb for which the walker is rewarded with wonderful views of Akaroa Harbour and the surrounding hills, a sheltered spot to sit and enjoy a picnic and an interesting site to visit. Two options are offered for the return trip, either a walk down the road with wonderful views, or cross country to Tree Crop Farm. The Heritage Park is managed by a local Trust and gives people the opportunity to plant a commemorative tree. Alternatively drive to the Heritage Park car park on Long Bay Road and make a short scenic 20 minute loop around the Park itself.

Best Short Walks for Cruise Passengers

Track 1Name of Track: Garden of Tane
Duration of walk: From ¼ to 2 hours
Start location: A number of walk tracks criss cross this reserve and a number of entrances and exits are possible. The main entrance on the corner of Rue Jolie and Aylmers Valley Road. Another entrance is on Beach Road
Key Highlights: Children's playground, a mix of grand exotic trees with a native understorey, historic cemeteries where many of the early Akaroa settlers are buried, lovely views over the harbour.

Track 2Name of Track: French Cemetery
Duration of walk: 45 minute circuit
Start location: Rue Pompallier
Key Highlights: This circular route visits the French cemetery, the oldest consecrated cemetery in the South Island of New Zealand. The walk returns via an old Akaroa street where some original French families lived and concludes with a visit to their church, St. Patrick’s.

Track 4Name of Track: Woodills North
Duration of walk: 1½ - 2½ hours circular (or 2 - 3 hours circular with return via Woodills South).
Start location: The walk begins at the top of Woodills Road. If you have a vehicle, park it on the flat part of Woodills road and walk up the hill to the trail head.
Key Highlights: The Woodills North route offers a scenic, pastoral walk winding high up the Grehan Valley behind Akaroa, past small farms and patches of native bush, with wonderful views over the valley and harbour.

Track 5Name of Track: Woodills South
Duration of walk: 1½ - 2½ hours circular (or 2 - 3 hours circular combined with Woodills North)
Start location: Go up Rue Grehan. Turn right after Tree Crop Farm and go over the stile.
Key Highlights: The Woodills South route combines two of Akaroa’s most historic streets, a country track with lovely views and a chance to visit places of interest just outside the village including Tree Crop Farm Park and Nettle Creek studio.

Track 6Name of Track: Akaroa Heritage Park
Duration of walk: 2-3 hours circular or 20 minute short walk
Start location: The full walk begins at the Grand Hotel. From here take the Woodills Road to the Woodills Track trail head.
Key Highlights: The route to the Akaroa Heritage Park is a steady climb for which the walker is rewarded with wonderful views of Akaroa Harbour and the surrounding hills, a sheltered spot to sit and enjoy a picnic and an interesting site to visit. Two options are offered for the return trip, either a walk down the road with wonderful views, or cross country to Tree Crop Farm. The Heritage Park is managed by a local Trust and gives people the opportunity to plant a commemorative tree. Alternatively drive to the Heritage Park car park on Long Bay Road and make a short scenic 20 minute loop around the Park itself.